State v. Imbruglia’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

51 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 51 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[w]hen ruling on a motion for a new trial, the trial justice acts as a thirteenth juror, exercising 'independent judgment on the credibility of witnesses and on the weight of the evidence.'”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Bruce Moten · State v. Joseph Silva

2. ““ ‘Reasonable doubt’ by definition means a doubt founded upon reason and not conjecture or speculation. A reasonable doubt is a doubt based upon evidence or lack of evidence. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt exists when, after you have thoroughly considered and examined all of the evidence that is before you, you have a firm belief that the defendant is guilty as charged.” (Emphasis added.)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Graham

3. “[a]bsent clear error and absent a determination by this Court that the trial justice overlooked or misconceived material and relevant evidence [relating] to a critical issue in the case, we will defer to the trial justice's ruling.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Francisco Guerrero